CALLER: 2404? Do you know — like my friend said that you guys like have to know, like you guys have to tell my parents before I can have an abortion. Is that true?

CLINIC: We have to have parental consent if you’re under 18.

CALLER: Oh. Well, I’ll be 14 in March, but there’s no way they can find out because like — well like the problem is my boyfriend’s 22, and we’re planning on getting married, but they can’t find out because they hate him because they think he’s too old for me. So is there any way like –

CLINIC: Hold on a moment, okay?

CALLER: All right.

(music)

CLINIC: Hi, this is Lori. Can I help you?

CALLER: Hi, yeah. Well, I was asking like is there any way like my parents don’t have to know if I’m getting an abortion?

CLINIC: You can go through what’s called a judicial bypass.

CALLER: Uh-huh. What is that?

CLINIC: Um, where you go before a judge just to prove that you’re mature enough to make the decision.

CALLER: Do I have to get a lawyer?

CLINIC: They appoint one for you.

CALLER: Oh, they do?

CLINIC: Are you planning to go to the Des Moines Planned Parenthood?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. Probably what you need to do is call them and talk to someone down there about it.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Saying that you want to go through judicial bypass, and they’ll walk you through it.

CALLER: Does the judge ever say no or anything?

CLINIC: I don’t — not in this area. There are certain areas where you’ll get a stinky judge (laughs), but I don’t think we’ve had a problem. You know, you may wind up just going through Polk County too.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But I don’t know the specifics of that because it doesn’t happen a lot.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: But the Des Moines Planned Parenthood are the ones that have to deal with that legally, so why don’t you give them a call? Explain your situation that you want to go through the judicial bypass. Have you watched the video and everything?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. They’ll probably recommend that you come in and do that and find –

CALLER: Do I have to tell the judge about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: I don’t know what questions they’ll ask.

CALLER: Oh, all right.

CLINIC: You know, I’ve never gone through the process with anybody, so I’m not sure what questions he asks.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: So I can’t — I don’t know. You know, that’s something you’d have to — I’m not — you know, I’m sure there are some judges that just go, yeah, okay, fine, let me sign it. And others may ask questions. So.

CALLER: Oh, all right.

CLINIC: I know. It’s not, it’s kind of a punitive act on the part of the legislature. (laughs)

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: We’re not too happy about it, but, you know, unfortunately we have to go by what the law says, so.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Why don’t you give them a call down there?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And they can help you through it. Okay?

CALLER: Well, like do you guys do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: Do you have to tell anybody about that if I –

CLINIC: No. Um-um.

CALLER: Okay. Like, well, say that I wasn’t pregnant. Do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: Okay, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about –

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: — that I was on birth control?

CLINIC: Uh-uh. Nope.

CALLER: Okay. Would like my boyfriend be able to pay for it and everything?

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: So, all right.

CLINIC: Do you want to schedule an appointment?

CALLER: Huh?

CLINIC: Do you want to schedule an appointment?

CALLER: Okay. Well, yeah.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: But you guys wouldn’t have to tell my parents? Because they can’t know at all, because they just hate my boyfriend because they think he’s too old for me.

CLINIC: Yeah. No, it’s — in Iowa there is no law stating that parents have to be notified if a minor gets birth control.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: All our services are confidential.

CALLER: My boyfriend said that nobody has to know.

CLINIC: Right.

CALLER: Right?

CLINIC: Right. The only time there’s parental notification is in the case of an abortion with a minor.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So do you want to schedule for a pregnancy test?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. Just a moment, please.

(music)

CLINIC: I do have some openings this afternoon.

CALLER: Oh. Well, I’d have to call my boyfriend to see if I can –

CLINIC: Okay. Otherwise, I’ve got tomorrow or Monday too.

CALLER: You guys have a walk-in thing?

CLINIC: We really request that you call just because, you know, sometimes we have people scheduled during that time and –

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: — it’s kind of a wait. So we recommend that you call.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Ahead. Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Well, is it okay if I call you back?

CLINIC: That’s fine.

CALLER: What was your name?

CLINIC: Lori.

CALLER: Lori? All right. Okay.

CLINIC: Okay. Bye bye.

CALLER: Thanks.

(phone clicks)

THE END
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